The Enemy of Eternal Life

When reading the story of the good Samaritan, we often forget why Jesus told that story.  He was answering the question, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?".

Luke 10:25-29  One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking Him this question: "Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?"  Jesus replied, "What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?"  The man answered, "'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"  "Right!" Jesus told him. "Do this and you will live!"  The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

Jesus has told us that the second greatest commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves. Then He proceeds to answer the question "Who is my neighbor?".

Luke 10:31-33  "And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  32  "Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  33  "But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion,

Jesus doesn't tell us the motivations of the two religious leaders who crossed the street to avoid getting involved.  Jesus' story leaves us one conclusion: any motivation to cross the street and not get involved does not qualify as loving our neighbor as ourselves.  

Jesus answers the question, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" by reminding us that inheriting eternal life is requires us to go all in with God.  We must Love God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind.  That is not just the "feel good" love of the heart as we find in many modern stories, the kind that often changes over time as that love is challenged by reality.  This is an all encompassing love surpassing the love for parents, husbands and wives, children, adventure, or safety.   Yes, you read that right. More than your children.  More than your spouse.  More than your Mom and Dad. More than your job.  Heart, soul, mind and strength.    

Matthew 10:37  "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

In America and much of the modern world, we are rich. The poorest people in the US are still richer than most of the poor in the countries of the developing world.  And Jesus tells us that "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!" Matthew 19:24.  Why does He say this?  Is it because rich people, even the poor rich people of the modern world, accumulate possessions?  Is it because somehow rich people are mean or greedy?  Or is it because rich people, even poor rich people, fill their time with self interested pursuits so that they are not available for God?  If our schedules are full what happens when our neighbor needs us?  What happens when God calls us to serve others?  Do we have to consult our calendars?  Do we cross the street all the while focused on our smart phones? Are we talking on the phone arranging our children's next soccer practice or recital?

Matthew 7:21  "Not everyone who calls out to Me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of My Father in heaven will enter.

We have made a practice in our lives of ignoring many parts of Jesus' teaching based on the idea that we have "faith" and that "faith" saves us.  If we don't do all the rest of His teachings somehow that will be Ok because we have faith.  But have we been sold a "bill of goods" that will not hold up when we need it.  Jesus also taught us that only those who do with the will of the Father will have eternal life.   So somehow we have been walking around believing that simply agreeing with the facts that Jesus is God, that He died to pay the price for our sins is enough and now we rich people can go about our busy schedules on the other side of the street from our neighbor.  

Faith is the enemy of eternal life.  The kind of faith that does not get involved.  The kind of faith that allows loving family, friends and lifestyle more than God. The kind of faith that is nothing more than a head nod that Jesus is Lord, like we have joined His team and wear His jersey but don't show up for practice and don't take the field.  That kind of faith is the enemy of eternal life.  No one who has that kind of faith will inherit eternal life.    

"Only those who actually do the will of My father in heaven will enter".  - Jesus